Well i got a pretty bad case of poison ivy. My friend has told me to pop the poison ivy and pour liquid bleach on the infected area. It hurts like hell, but it drys out the poison out of u really quite quickly.
In other matters, can u please describe the plant a little better. I really dont know what u r talking about.
Mike, jnoeth@erols.com
My gf has acquired a bad case which not only does not seem to be disappating but actually is recurring. She has tried caladryl, and now a new thing, medrol pac which seems to be helping. Any suggestions regarding further
treatment would be appreciated. I am advising that she go to a dermatologist for specific medical attention.
Tom
In Reply to: Re: Any Home Remeadies for Poison Ivy posted by Tom De Mott on July 12, 1998 at 12:48:45:
Dear Tom,
Depending on how long she has had it, the Medrol Pak may just resolve it (so long as she takes it for the full length of time. The longer she has had it, the longer she will have to take the cortisone AND these "paks" ususlly are not for nearly long enough--unless taken right in the beginning.
Usually, what people do (without specific instruction by the physician) is forget to take their dose as soon as the itching is gone. EACH time it comes back, it will be more difficult to reverse and to prevent recurrence.
Topical cortisone (something like Cortizone 10), used a couple of times a day, would help as well.
MOST recurrent poison ivy happens because of re-exposure. Any shoes, clothing, gloves, tools, pets, etc., that touched the weed, would continue to re-expose the victim.
A dermatologist will not give you any more complete advice than this.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Any Home Remeadies for Poison Ivy posted by Tom De Mott on July 12, 1998 at 12:48:45:
About 6 years ago, I had a very bad case of poison ivy.
I looked like a burn victim and was tired of having doctors
and pharmacists telling me I was the worst case they had
ever seen. I got it in my backyard - pulling weeds. Luckily
I had on garden gloves. It was all over me. My face, neck,
arms, legs, stomach and spreading. It does spread!
The only relief I got was a hot shower and what I didn't know what the hot shower was opening the sores and spreading
it even more. It spread for two weeks. And then it finally ran its course. I had shots - lots of them. Didn't work.
The only thing I could wear were sweatsuits (in July) and
without underwear. Wore long socks, used peroxide on sores and then gauze wrapped around my arms and had my hair pulled back. Used vasoline to keep the tiniest wisps of hair off my face because I couldn't stand the irritation. I wore gloves to bed so I wouldn't scratch in my sleep and spread it to my hands. I was not a happy camper.
I was off work for 4 weeks. Two weeks it spread and then
two it took two weeks until I could wear clothes. I was sure my face was going to be scarred, but it wasn't.
Benadryl didn't really work. Someone told me to use Aveeno
soap, but I didn't. I should have because I have heard many
times how could it is.
I was checking the Internet tonight because I thought I just
got it again - pulling weeds, but this time with my bare
hands. Just washed my face and hands with peroxide and then
soap. Can't tell if my hands are okay yet, but it looks like it was mosquitos that got my face and neck. Then never
a mosquito bite would make me happy!
Dear Peter,
I get my own annual case from my Gatineau Hills cabin. We are the P.I. capital of the world. This year I decided to do a lot of reading about it. And over the last two weeks have tried several things.
The first couple of years, I tried the steroids my doctor recommended. Several books said, and I agree, that it works but it also deters your body from developing its natural immunity to urushiol.
So then I tried lots of antihistamines - both drugstore variety and natural (Vitamin C) - to help deal with itching while my body found its own cure. That worked well but took a while.
This year I tried the Rhus Tox. I took it for 30 hours, and things got worse, it seemed to me. I've heard that it works well most of the time, but I was one of the unlucky few.
I also took Graphites to help cut down on the ooze. And I tried the compresses etc. I couldn't really tell if it helped or not.
The most brilliant thing I found in a health food store is a jewelweed spray. Truly nature's gift. Spray it on the rash, and the itch subsides to an ignorable dull burn. After all else, it's the thing I most recommend.
More than anything else, it's wash everything that may have come into contact. This time, I got a second wave of it on my hands because of dried urushiol on a belt I was wearing (I had already washed all the clothes). Prevention is the watchword for me from now on.
In Reply to: Re: Any Home Remeadies for Poison Ivy posted by David Caron on July 12, 1998 at 13:33:36:
Thanks, David.
I was unaware that there was a jewelweed spray. As we have discussed on this BB, already, rubbing jewelweed on the areas known to be exposed (right at the time) is the best way to prevent a rash. Jewelweed is ALWAYS growing right beside the poison ivy. God has done her/his homework! This is SO true that anyone can learn to recognize jewelweed and once IT is seen be VERY wary of the poison ivy that has to be growing nearby.
The sooner that jewelweed is used, the more effective.
Washing any "fomites" (like your belt) is another critical measure to prevent "recurrence". It frequently is NOT recurrence but re-exposurre--as you so aptly pointed out.
Now that I know about the jewelweed spray, I will recommend to anyone who even thinks they might have been exposed (if they did not rub on the actual jewelweed at the time) to get the spray & keep it at home to use when appropriate.
Namaste` Walt
In Reply to: Re: Any Home Remeadies for Poison Ivy posted by Walt Stoll on July 13, 1998 at 07:34:44:
I am currently appreciating the itch of poison ivy.
I live in the woods, and though I thought I had finally
become somewhat immune, I have it once again.
Jewel weed is a lovely plant that does indeed grow near poison ivy. I pick the leaves and succulent stems, press
them with a dough roller, apply them to the itchy area,
and then wrap plastic around it. I leave it on for about 20
minutes or until I can't stand it anymore. The jewel weed
stings and makes the itch very intense after awhile. On an
average breakout, two or three applications over a day or two work fine. The jewel weed seems to leave the area dry,
itch-free, but raised. In my experience, the jewel weed doesn't necessarily help the itch between applications.
My current outbreak is worse than I've had in a few years,
and I'm trying just about everything. Someone suggested
rubbing banana peels on the itchy areas; they claimed the
tannic acid would help. I am glad to hear someone's making
Jewel weed spray. That would be much easier to use.
In Reply to: Re: Any Home Remeadies for Poison Ivy posted by Christine Wagner on July 23, 1998 at 12:44:55:
Thanks, Christine.
There has been a lot of traffic on this BB about this over the past few weeks. All I know about it has been discussed there. However, here is another tidbit:
At the age of 13, having been immune to it up till then, I had an overwheming exposure to the smoke of burning PI and--since I had up to then been immune--I handled it for hours without gloves or shirt while cleaning out a fencerow.
I got it all over my body & after that always was very sensitive to it. UNTIL I learned about wellness. Within a year of regular exercise, a whole foods diet AND the regular practice of skilled relaxation, I was no longer susceptible to it. When I keep up my program I am not sensitive but if I give it up for about 6 months (I am human too) I become senstitive to it once more. Go figure.
Walt
ummmmm...........i have had poison ivy for 9 days and i can't get rid of it. i have used benadryl,lotions,bath packages and many other things. THIS JUST WON"T GO AWAY!HELP!!!
In Reply to: Re: Any Home Remeadies for Poison Ivy posted by C.Johnston on July 13, 1998 at 22:47:28:
Dear C.,
If I were you, I would be tempted to do the cortisone thing although the "medrol pack" mentioned yesterday probably wouldn't be a high enough dosage or for long enough. A knowledgable physician could easily devise a "stepdown dosage" of prednisone for a LOT less money that lasted a couple of weeks. This is a very safe length of time to take cortisone for something like this.
If you read all the notes about this that were posted within the last 2 days, you will get all that I would know about helping yourself aside of this note.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Any Home Remeadies for Poison Ivy posted by C.Johnston on July 13, 1998 at 22:47:28:
help i have poison ivy on my hands arms feet leg neck and my head
In Reply to: Re: Any Home Remeadies for Poison Ivy posted by dave on July 15, 1998 at 16:37:27:
Dear Dave,
Read all the entries about poison ivy over the past week & I think you will get what you want.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Any Home Remeadies for Poison Ivy posted by Walt Stoll on July 16, 1998 at 10:07:27:
how long does it take for poison ivy to show?
In Reply to: Re: Any Home Remeadies for Poison Ivy posted by holly on July 17, 1998 at 23:28:23:
Dear Holly,
It depends on how sensitive the person is. Also, the faster it shows up, the worse it is going to be (for the same reasons). I have seen is show up within a few hours and seen it delay as long as a few days.
Walt
i need education about this stuff. Don't really know what i keep getting, whether its ivy, oak, sumac. I live in Tennessee. I seem to be getting this stuff more the older i get. I have had it twice already this year and only a month or so apart. The first time, I had to get the steroid shot it was so bad but I dont want to have to do that every 2 months so now what. Benadryl tablets have stopped my itching in the past, but it really rips my system. I'll feel sluggish for two days after taking just one little pill. Does it spread by scratching it? The stuff is actually under my chin right now and seems to be getting on my face. This jewelweed is definitely always by the ivy? What if its oak i keep getting? Sumac? Is jewelweed by those? HELP, i'm itching as i type!
In Reply to: Re: help me I'm ITCHING!!!!!!!! posted by Kenneth O'Kelley on July 14, 1998 at 09:25:13:
Poison ivy can be spread only through contact with the poison ivy resin. However, you can get poison ivy without directly touching the plant. For instance, outdoor pets can carry the resin on their fur. Firewood, gardening tools, sports equipment, and clothing can also be contaminated. Droplets of poison ivy resin can be carried through the air by the smoke and can seriously irritate your lungs, nasal passages, mouth, and skin. Therefore, never burn a poison ivy plant. You cannot catch poison ivy from the fluid that comes from the blisters. This means that it can't be spread from one body part to another through scratching (unless resin remains under the fingernails).
In Reply to: Re: help me I'm ITCHING!!!!!!!! posted by Kenneth O'Kelley on July 14, 1998 at 09:25:13:
Dear Kenneth,
It matters not a whit which of these weeds you are coming into contact with. The treatment and prevention is the same. I so not know if the jewel weed works the same for the poison oak or sumac & would like anyone with experience with this to let us know.
Your observation of this being a worsening problem with advancing age is due to the fact that the immune system becomes less stable as one gets older. There are LOTS of things one can do to improve their immune system and THAT would reverse this trend as well as help you in many other ways.
You would eventually bless the fact that you had the experience of worsening susceptibility to poison ivy because it got you to learn about improving your immune system.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: help me I'm ITCHING!!!!!!!! posted by Daniel Warnick on July 15, 1998 at 01:32:26:
Thanks, Daniel!
It has always amazed me how these simple truths have such a hard time being accepted by the general public.
YOU ARE ABSOLUTLEY RIGHT!
Walt
In Reply to: Re: help me I'm ITCHING!!!!!!!! posted by Daniel Warnick on July 15, 1998 at 01:32:26:
Sorry, you will never convince me that Poison Ivy doesn't
spread. When I stopped taking steaming hot showers (per
someone's advise), the spreading slowed down. One day
I crossed my legs and quickly realized what I did, but too
late. The next day, the "clear" area of the one leg had
become infected, exactly where I had crossed it. I touched
an infected area of my face and touched a clear area of my
face and within hours, that part was infected.
Other people I know have had the same experience.
I am very fair skinned and have very sensitive skin and
was told that might be why I had such a bad reaction.
My doctor told me he had only one worse case and she had
to be admitted to the hospital - she had it internally.
P.S. I washed my sheets, towels, clothing - everything
on a daily basis to make sure I was as antiseptic
as possible.
In Reply to: Re: help me I'm ITCHING!!!!!!!! posted by Melodee on July 19, 1998 at 00:02:15:
Dear Melodee,
As I type this I am thinking "Why bother?" I guess I have an aversion to even the mildest case of correctable misinformation.
If you took the time to fully understand the mechanism of poison ivy, you would know that it cannot spread other than by re-contact with the poison ivy oil. The oil, like all oils are saponifiable (made non-allergic) by the application of soap. Like axel grease, this oil canot be removed mechanically, no matter how much you work at it.
There is no doubt that you do not understand this or you wouldn't continue to cling to your faulty conception. There are so few certainties in life that I can understand your wanting to cling to this even though it is false.
The reason I bother is that, so long as you go at this with this poor understanding, you will continue to have a hard time controlling it. When you worry about "crossing your legs" you are putting out energy better spent elsewhere.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: help me I'm ITCHING!!!!!!!! posted by Melodee on July 19, 1998 at 00:02:15:
I've been using Calamine lotion like crazy and keeping the infected areas covered. I soak the cloth with the lotion then tape them to my body. It does spread if your not careful. I wash my hands constantly and wash and change my clothes and bedding more than usual.
Hot showers does make it feel better. I itch like crazy in the shower and it feels good. I wonder if the itching is good for you as it is causing the infected area to oooze out the poison inside. If all the poison is ooozed out then it's over and done with. That's why the body is telling you to "Itch". To get the poison out?? That's what I think anyway.
I am prepared to go another few weeks with this. I've already had it a week. I don't have much choice in the matter!! All I'm trying to do is keep it from spreading and constantly treating it with this lotion. It's helping to dry it up a little bit.
And at the same time I am fighting a bad cold. Coughing and blowing my nose all the time. So I'm feeling pretty miserable this past week. Only time will heal!! I have to be patient.
I feel for all of you out there suffering now, like me. HANG IN THERE!!
Susan.
In Reply to: Re: help me I'm ITCHING!!!!!!!! posted by Susan on July 20, 1998 at 16:54:35:
I just now noticed as I was scanning the replies here, about the SPREADING or not of poison ivy.
They say it doesn't spread when you are scratching and you touch another part of your body. Or your infected area and the oozing touches another part of your body.
I wonder then how it was that it started out a couple small parts and in 3 days it was bigger and on other parts of my body?? Was it already there and just waiting to come out?? Or did it spread??
Another thing: When the yuk is dripping down my leg from the wound, that is not causing my leg to break out with it.
I guess what we think is "spreading" is really what was there the whole time but took a couple days to show itself.
What do you think??
Susan
P.s. I will try Benadryl also, along with the Calamine lotion. I'll have to do some more hunting for the "jewelweed" and try that too.
In Reply to: Re: help me I'm ITCHING!!!!!!!! posted by Susan on July 20, 1998 at 17:50:45:
Dear Susan,
We think that your last comment is the right one. There is SO much we do not know about how the bodymind works that we may know more in the future.
However, I think we DO know enough now to be sure that the secretions from the reaction (all of which come from our bodies) cannot spread this rash. IF the poison ivy oil was NOT saponified, and thus removed from the area, the secretions could wash some of it to other places.
This is why we try our best to have people actually understand how this works so they will wash with soap & water ASAP after exposure and then at least twice a day for a day or so BEFORE any rash shows up. Washing clothing, shoes, belts, gloves, hats and pets is just as critical.
Thanks, Walt
In Reply to: Re: help me I'm ITCHING!!!!!!!! posted by Susan on July 20, 1998 at 16:54:35:
hot showers are bad to take when infested with poison ivy, though they may feel good. your poors open up after a hot shower, if you do take a hot shower i would suggest bleaching that area immediatly after.
And how long is this poison ivy stay in effect if well taken care of? and how long until it dissapeares on the skin if it isn't that bad and is taken care of.
In Reply to: Re: help me I'm ITCHING!!!!!!!! posted by Walt Stoll on July 21, 1998 at 13:01:04:
i'm suffering my first bout with poison ivy right now and i don't think it spreads through touching. If it did, I'd have it all over right now because i didn't realize what it was until I had already had it for days and had been scratching it like crazy without washing my hands. I was told by a friend that there was a poison ivy placebo study in which they rubbed non-poisonous leaves on people and told them it was poison ivy and the people developed rashes very similar to poison ivy, so I think that if you believe the rash spreads through touch, you'll get it right where you're nervous about it. The story that someone told about crossing their legs... it's probably because she realized she'd crossed her legs. She's probably done a hundred other things to spread the rash that she hasn't even noticed, and therefore hasn't developed the rash in those places.
In Reply to: Re: help me I'm ITCHING!!!!!!!! posted by Mary Chen on July 21, 1998 at 15:32:32:
Right on, Mary! Right on!
Hi everyone! I'm a little itchy because I have a nasty case of poison ivy from trimming the hedges and pulling weeds around my college house. I was trying to do a good thing and look what it got me. It's all over my neck face and a little on my hand and leg. The doctors gave me Prednisone to take for 10 days and the pharmicist gave me Ivy super dry. They seem to be helping, but not quickly enough for me. Does anyone have any suggestions other than avoiding the plant (since I obviously don't know what it looks like)? I would really appreciate any help! Thanks!!!
In Reply to: Re: Any Home Remeadies for Poison Ivy posted by Hollie on July 15, 1998 at 19:19:44:
Dear Holly,
There are lots of entries on this subject this week right here on this bb. You will get what you want by reviewing them.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Any Home Remeadies for Poison Ivy posted by Walt Stoll on July 16, 1998 at 10:54:27:
Dr.Stoll,
thanks for your help. I have some more questions. I tried this stuff called tecnu, which is a wash (i'm sure you have heard of it). It did not seem to have too immediate of an effect for me. I read the ingredients on the label and noticed that the main ingredient was "mineral oil."
Do you believe that rubbing just pure mineral oil upon the affected area would be more effective? Also, since the tecnu wash did not immediately bring me relief, I decided to go for the clorox bleach. I now live on an 85 acre farm, so I used it so I used the bleach when I got chiggers last and it seemed to really help clear the bites up quickly. Of course, it felt like someone lit my legs on fire, but in a weird way it almost felt good. So I used the clorox on the ivy under my chin a few minutes ago and boy did it burn, but I am already experiencing relief from the itching so what do you think. Is mineral oil and bleach safe for the skin or am I playing with "fire."(pun intended) thanks, Kenneth
In Reply to: Mineral Oil or Bleach?????????????? posted by Kenneth O'Kelley on July 17, 1998 at 01:49:48:
Dear Kenneth,
I have not heard of tecnu. It is unlikely that mineral oil will do anything more than spread this since the poison ivy oil is the stuff that causes the problem & any oil would help spread any still on the skin.
As I understand it, bleach works by killling the nerve endings in the area & so prevents itching which tends to make the rash worse. If you had NOTHING wrong & just itched a spot every few hours for a day or so, you would develop an itchy rash at that spot.
Walt
Can you please help me i am going on vacition in 3 days and there is a problem i have poison ivy all over my face
so please help me
In Reply to: Re: Any Home Remeadies for Poison Ivy? quikly please posted by Curtis Baronetki on July 16, 1998 at 10:41:47:
curtis, i can only attest to what "I" have experienced. I get poison ivy really bad and the one thing that seems to work the fastest for me is "bleach". I currently have a question in to Dr Stoll concerning bleach right now that you may read, but the bleach has definitely brought relief!! Be forwarned, however, that it will burn very badly at first but believe me it goes away and the bleach seems to have an incredible "drying" effect. With it being on your face I would definitely consult a dermatologist before attempting this, but it has definitely worked for me. God Bless you with a speedy recovery. You might want to try a very small area on your arm or something first, and I cannot be held responsible for any pain that you might suffer. I AM NOT A DOCTOR OF ANY KIND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! May the Lord bless you with a speedy recovery and a great vacation. Kenneth O'Kelley Jr. lokoao@aol.com
In Reply to: Re: Any Home Remeadies for Poison Ivy? quikly please posted by Curtis Baronetki on July 16, 1998 at 10:41:47:
Dear Curtis,
There are MANY notes about this on this BB within the last 3 days. Seek & thee shall find.
The only thing that I know of that will work that fast to give you itching relief is high doses of cortisone. It needs to be taken for about 10 days to prevent recurrence and is safe to take as a decreasing dosage. ANY knowledgable physician would know all about this. It is going to take you a month to have normally appearing skin since it takes a month for the skin to replace itself. However, your itching would be much better within 24 hours & the swelling gone within 48 hours of this approach.
Walt
this may sound like a crazy idea, especially coming from a 15 year old, but here goes. I myself am very allergic to the plant, but within my own powers i have found many ways to treat it. When i have samll scattered dots all over my body, i touch a small glue gun, thats HOT, slighty on it. it stings, but its worth it. I came to this conclusion when at a hot baseball game, i placed my neck on a warm/hot fence pole. the warmth from the pole felt very good, so i kept moving down the pole scoulding my neck (not really burning my self though). another way to help the itching felling is to place some kinda of tape over the small area. that way u can itch it with out spreading it. i have tryed many way do rid myself of this horrible THING. one last thing, all this may sound kinda crazy, but it works for me. i have also scrached away the poison ivy with a brilo pad. right now, im tryin my acne medication in hopes that it will dry it up. in case i never find the right method, i have a aloe plant in my room growing in the window sil
hopes this helps
In Reply to: Re: Any Home Remeadies for Poison Ivy posted by Pat on July 16, 1998 at 17:14:57:
Dear Pat,
Personal observations are NEVER silly. Thanks!
ANY itchy skin condition will get some relief from the itching by the application of heat. Many times it lasts for hours. Try a hot shower.
You will find that you do not have to burn yourself to get this relief. Unfortunately, this is a symptomatic relief & does nothing for the actual cause. Look at the BB for this past few days & read about the other options you might have.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Any Home Remeadies for Poison Ivy posted by Walt Stoll on July 17, 1998 at 11:26:48:
Walt Stoll, i had written a question to you concerning "mineral oil." Thank you for your reply; however, I was wrong. I went back and looked at the ingredients on the Tecnu and it wasn't mineral "oil" it was mineral "spirits", so I submit the question again but this time about pure mineral spirits. Would pure mineral spirits help, and what is mineral "spirits" anyway? Thanks again, Ken.
In Reply to: Re: Any Home Remeadies for Poison Ivy posted by kenneth o'kelley on July 20, 1998 at 22:36:26:
Dear Kenneth,
"Spirits" pharmacologically normally means that anything in the substance has been dissolved in alcohol. I would be interested in what minerals they are talking about. I would also be interested if this works for anybody.
Walt
In Reply to: Re: Any Home Remeadies for Poison Ivy posted by Walt Stoll on July 21, 1998 at 13:42:52:
I only used it once. I was itching so bad after that one time, I went ahead and hit the bleach cause the Tecnu didnt work after 5 minutes. Others have suggested strongly, however, that I use it. It was recommended to my by the Pharmacist.
Laughingly,
Kenneth
Peter
I too have had some luck with bleach. I fill the bath tub and put about a cup in. Then I just sit and soak. However this year I have had a bad case all over my body and it is persistant. My old standby is failing me and I am considering going to the doctor for the first time and get a cortizone shot. My wife who suffers even worse than I has to go 2 to 3 times a year for one. But try the bleach first, maybe it will help.
In Reply to: Re: Any Home Remeadies for Poison Ivy posted by Drew on July 17, 1998 at 11:11:52:
My brother-in-law uses lemon juice. He dabs in with a cotton ball and rubs the places.
I have had 2 bad cases of poison ivy in my life and I have tried many things to get rid of the rash and stop the itching. The second bad case I am having right now as I type this letter. I just got off of prednizone 2 days ago and it helped when I was taking it but now it is back in the same spots and more. My eye was completely shut this morning and am now reverting back to my home remedies. Now I would NEVER try the bleaching method but what I do is go to the beach. Either that or soak a face-cloth in warm salt water. This usually stops the itching and I find the rash goes away quicker. Another thing I do is make a kind of tea out of a certain dried up plant that also is turned into a compress. If anyone knows of this remedy and knows what the plant is called please e-mail me at Jeffclare@aol.com and let me know I would be most obliged.
In Reply to: Re: Any Home Remeadies for Poison Ivy posted by Jeff on July 20, 1998 at 12:09:06:
Dear Jeff,
All this means to me is that the doc who prescribed your prednisone has a lot to learn about how to use it for poison ivy,
you needed at least twice the dose you were given and for at least twice the duration. Hindsight is always easier. I have to say that without knowing exactly what dose (and for what duration) was prescribed. Sometimes it is that the person just stopped taking it when they were improved-----
THAT is not the fault of the doc unless s/he did not explain the trouble you could get into not following directions.
The problem is that now that it has recurred, those dosages have to be doubled again in amount & length of time to have a chance to prevent "serum sickness" which is a very serious complication of inadequately treated severe poison ivy (or any bad allergic reaction). I have seen people end up in the hospital for treatment of serum sickness due just to inadequately treated poison ivy.
Unfortunately, once you ahve been treated with cortisone, the course of your condition is different and the usual alternative treatments will no longer work.
Were I in your shoes, I would insist on seeing a knowledgable dermatologist (or allergist) ASAP to get this behind you. THEN, if you do not learn how to avoid it, the next time you get it I would go back to the knowledgable doc and not the one who gave you the prednisone this time.
Also, you might consider the other remedies discussed on this BB, within the past week, before changing your process with prednisone in the first place--too late for THIS time.
Walt
I have read on the internet to use epsom salts - the dosage is 2 tablesoons per 1 cup of water - warm or cold - dissolve it and use gauze or paper towels - wipe it on and let it air dry - if you must bandage, use a piece of gauze or paper towel that has been soaked and air dried against your skin under the bandage - it is supposed to dry it up - I am trying it right now
I got poison ivy after retrieving my kitten from a bed of it and I have a few questions:
1) It's been a week since she was exposed, and it doesn't seem to be spreading too badly on my body. I just found out that it was poison ivy yesterday; should i bathe her or is it safe to think she would have bathed it off of herself by now? I know with dogs you would give them a bath, but since she's a cat I wondered if she would have licked it off herself by now.
2) Are pets allergic to poison ivy? As in, will my cat develop symptoms if she was exposed to it and especially if she did ingest it from her own fur?
Thanks for any info anyone can give,
Mary.
In Reply to: Poison Ivy and pets posted by Mary Chen on July 21, 1998 at 15:37:27:
Dear Mary,
I have never seen any creature than humans get "poison ivy". However, I know animals can have allergies so, I would suggest you would get a more authoritative answer from you local veterinarian. Her/his office triage person would probably know as well & you wouldn't have to bother the doctor. Please share what you learn.
I would "guess" that the cat has removed the oil by licking but I am not the expert you need to ask. I would ask the same questioni when I called the vet. Let us know, too?
Good questions!
Walt
Just wanting to know if this stuff I bought called Tecnu wash has worked for any of you scratchers in poison ivy land? I praise the Lord that mine is finally about gone, but now my son has it so I guess he must have gotten some of my resin, but I had had it a week before he ever got it so you would think the resin would be gone but who knows where he got it.????????????
In Reply to: Re: HAS THE TECNU WASH WKD FOR ANY OF U? posted by K.O'Kelley Jr. on July 22, 1998 at 01:39:37:
I too am using the Techno wash. My husband had it on the truck. He works for Ameritech and it must be good if they are giving it to their employees who are out in the woods alot. I just got done using it & don't feel the itch as strong
In Reply to: Re: HAS THE TECNU WASH WKD FOR ANY OF U? posted by K.O'Kelley Jr. on July 22, 1998 at 01:39:37:
My dr. tells me that you can't pass p.i. on to anyone and that once you've washed to oil off, it no longer spreads. What appears to be spreading was a lesser amt. of oil from the plant that was there to begin with. So your son must have contacted the oil on his own. The Tecnu hasn't worked for me, but I doubt that any over the counter stuff would with the dose I got!
I haven't found out what it is yet, but an old man told my Dad that if you go to a vet and get the stuff that they use to rub on a cow with mastitus, it will get rid of poison ivy. I am currently on my second outbreak of the summer. I am going to talk to a vet tomorrow.
Susan
After a tiny spot on my left leg appeared three days ago, the poison ivy (or oak) I have contracted has spread all over my leg, swelling it so that the joint can scarcely be bent, all over my neck and face, swelling my left eye shut. After trying the "home remedies" such as oatmeal baths, benedryl, calamine lotion, not sleeping for the past three nights, and watching it worsten every day, I finally went to the doctor today. She prescribed oral prednisone in decreasing doses for 10 days, beginning with 60 mg today and ending with 10 on the last day. I took the first 60 this morning, and already the lesions have begun to flatten. She also have me an antihistimine and a solution to soak the lesions in. This, she says, will dry them up and soothe at the same time. I feel better already!
Carol
My doctor had me mix up powered milk as if to drink, but apply it to the areas affected with strips of cloth (like an old sheet) and compress it on the area 4 fimes a day for 5 minutes. It seems to be helping, probably mostly the itching. I made it 49 years without getting it and would like this to be the only time in the next 49.
In Reply to: Re: Any Home Remeadies for Poison Ivy posted by Ron Mussman on July 25, 1998 at 12:17:00:
came back to hawaii from vacation in illinois and started to breakout in red ichy bumps all over my feet,yes poor island boy i am i wandered around barefoot,anyway i was told it was chiggers by a friend who had them once a long time ago,well seeing we dont have any here there was no way to kill em although i was amazed i could have missed so many and that it took 2 days for it to start after i returned home. the bumps have been spreading steadily up my legs onto my arms and a few on my torso despite my best efforts to kill them.well i tried everything from mite and lice spray to deepwoods off and then pure undiluted clorox bleach dabbed onto the areas. i seem to have failed miserably,and now a 8 days into this its still spreading! i have no idea what poison ivy rash looks like or for that matter what chiggers look like,but im now conviced i have poison oak, the bleach seems to work well on the iching if you can stand the smell and burning,i wouldnt bathe in it but dabbing it on works and keep it off your face and outa your mouth and eyes!id appreciate anything you can tell me to help me out.im currently covered in calamine lotion but that dosent help much.why is it still spreading after so long?
In Reply to: Re: Any Home Remeadies for Poison Ivy posted by steve on July 28, 1998 at 01:42:12:
Well, Steve, it sounds like you definitely do NOT have chigger bites. I've had them in previous years and they're not like poison ivy. Chigger bites cause huge (often penny-sized) bumps that itch like crazy. They usually only occur in areas where clothing is tight against the skin. My fellow outdoor-folk believe this is due to the fact that the chiggers think the tight crevice is bark (where they live). Then, they try to burrow into it. They do NOT spread and go away in about a week or two. FYI
A friend had very good luck using Laquer thinner (automotive paint thinner) He had a bad case around his waist band that was rubbed raw from his jeans. His spot shrank to half it's size after only 4 hours. It will dry the skin quick!!
Hope this helps
Look up jewelweed, It grows all over where I live in Pa.
We have used the sap or juice from this to cure poison
ivy and nettles for years. The quicker you start treatment
the better
In Reply to: Re: Any Home Remeadies for Poison Ivy posted by Guy Tanner on July 30, 1998 at 09:59:54:
Dear Guy,
Truer words were never spoken. Did you see the note that Jewel Weed spray is now available in health food stores?
Thanks, Walt